Iowa Farmer Today

Jean Moseley admires her green beans in the greenhouse on her and husband Steve's Black Hawk County farm. The Moseleys have been growing vegetables for local farmers' markets, restaurants and nursing homes for six years. IFT photo by Hannah Fletcher

Many farm families seek off-farm jobs to help make ends meet. But, some opt for a second job that is still on the farm.

Evelyn Walshire of Mechanicsville has been contributing to the family farm by selling her garden vegetables at local farmers markets for almost 20 years.

She always has enjoyed gardening and was initially encouraged by a neighbor to sell her garden's goods at farmers markets.

"Since, they asked me I thought I would give it a whirl and I got hooked on it," Evelyn says.

Evelyn has been involved in the local foods trade for so long she recognizes customers and fellow vendors, and that keeps her going back.

"It gets to be kind of like another family," she says.

Evelyn goes to three markets per week during the farmers market season at Mount Vernon, Tipton and Mechanicsville.

Evelyn says she has watched farmers markets gain in popularity recently.

New people are jumping on the local-produce bandwagon.

Jean and Steve Moseley began selling local produce at farmers markets and other outlets six years ago when they decided to stop farrowing on their Black Hawk County farm.

"It was the alternative to me going off the farm to get another job," Jean said.

She said there was always a large garden when she grew up on the farm. But, over the years her garden had shrunk.

Their traditional crops and Jean's part-time nursing job made it hard to keep up a large garden.

Now, Steve sells corn and soybeans from their 400-acre farm at the local elevator, while Jean sells tomatoes, green beans, onions and other vegetables at two local farmers markets and direct-markets produce to restaurants.

There is some crossover between the farm and garden work. Jean stops going to market during planting and harvest to help on the farm.

For both women, selling the produce is their domain. Their husbands help with planting and harvesting the garden.

"I'd never get this done all by myself," Evelyn said.

When Evelyn attends one of her markets, her husband Everette stays home to farm their 320 acres near Mechanicsville.

"I don't think he has ever come to market. He's always got his own thing to do. This is mostly my thing," she said.

Everette runs a 50-head cow/calf operation and farms with his brother, Tom, and their son, Brian. However, he helps plant and till the half-acre garden.

"Of course, I do all the little stuff," Evelyn says.

Jean said she often she employs neighbor teen-agers to help in the Moseley's 1½ -acre garden plot and green house.

The Moseleys' garden has taken over their farm house near Waterloo. Herbs sprout next to the house, some plants take over the back porch, and others start in the basement under grow lamps before being transplanted outside.

On the day before market, Jean concedes her kitchen is taken over to prepare baked goods for sale.

"Everything would be covered with market stuff," she says.

In addition to the farmers' markets, the Moseleys participate in Buy Fresh, Buy Local, a program that connects farmers to grocers and restaurants. They sell their goods to a convention center, taco restaurant and three nursing homes.

One of the nursing homes' directors believes the residents want fresh food, Jean says.

"Many of them grew up with their own gardens, and they have had fresh all their lives."

She has learned to lure customers by letting them try her fresh produce or baked goods.

"If they love your baked goods, they'll try your vegetables," she said.

Jean makes sample foods, such as salsas, made with ingredients fresh from her garden. She gives the recipe to customers to encourage them to buy her produce.

Jean says her first year selling at markets was difficult.

"That first year, you feel like you have good stuff but (the customers) wanted to go back to who they know."

She was encouraged by some women, similar to Evelyn, who was selling for about 20 years.

"When I was just starting out, one of the gals told me, ‘You won't believe it. It'll get in your blood.' "

And, it has.

Jean talks about her tomatoes fondly, and Evelyn proudly accepts compliments on her beets and kohlrabi.

To top it all, they feel their ventures bring in extra income and gives them satisfaction to provide fresh food for local consumers.

"(Customers) like what you are doing," Evelyn says. "It makes you feel like you must be doing something right."

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